Trayvon Martin case: DOJ to probe fatal shooting

The federal Justice Department will investigate the shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American teenager who was fatally shot in Florida last week by a neighborhood watch captain armed with a high-powered handgun.

In a late-night statement, the department announced Monday its Civil Rights Division, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the FBI, will launch “a thorough and independent investigation into the facts and circumstances of the shooting,” and pledged to “take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation.”

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The brief statement, which came only hours after the White House appeared reluctant to insert itself into the situation, also included a caveat for Martin’s family as well as activists and protesters who have demanded justice: There’s no guarantee the acknowledged shooter, George Zimmerman, will end up behind bars for chasing and shooting the 17-year-old student. Zimmerman, has been described by police as white though his family has said he is white and Hispanic.

“With all federal civil rights crimes, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person acted intentionally and with the specific intent to do something which the law forbids – the highest level of intent in criminal law,” according to the statement. “Negligence, recklessness, mistakes and accidents are not prosecutable under the federal criminal civil rights laws.”

Zimmerman, 28, insisted to police he shot Martin in self-defense Feb. 26 as the two wrestled on a suburban street in Sanford, Fla., a suburban community just north of Orlando. Sanford police have not arrested or charged Zimmerman, who had a permit to carry a weapon.

The shooting of Martin, a baby-faced student with no history of trouble, has outraged the African American community. Stories about Martin’s death — and the Sanford police’s decision not to arrest Zimmerman — blazed across the Internet during the last four days, along with growing calls for President Obama to condemn the shooting.

But hopes that the president would make a statement were squelched during press secretary Jay Carney’s press briefing Monday afternoon. Asked about the shooting, and whether Obama has said anything, Carney was brief.

“We here in the White House are aware of the incident, and we understand that the local FBI office has been in contact with the local authorities and is monitoring the situation,” Carney said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Trayvon Martin’s family, but obviously we’re not going to wade into a local law enforcement matter. I would refer you to the Justice Department and to local law enforcement at this point.”

I can't help but wonder if Holder would be sending a team down there if the victim was white. Based on all the digitized video I've seen of the socialist clown lately, I sincerely doubt it! No, let me rephrase that. Hell no he wouldn't. Holder is a racist and everything he does shows it.

I can't help but wonder if Holder would be sending a team down there if the victim was white. Based on all the digitized video I've seen of the socialist clown lately, I sincerely doubt it! No, let me rephrase that. Hell no he wouldn't. Holder is a racist and everything he does shows it.

The shooting was bad enough. Yet somehow the police have managed to turn a senseless, tragic murder into a far worse crime: They've declared open-season to SLAUGHTER black children. Are we surprised? No. While it's true that police have a tough job, not all police do that job for the right reasons. Some are thugs, bullies, cowards, veritable criminals w/badges. We are NEVER safe, civil rights are NEVER secure, we are ALWAYS one stupid crime, one stupid law, one stupid police officer away from being at SQUARE-ONE. Arrest the SOB that murdered this harmless child.

Against the dispatcher’s advice, Zimmerman chased Martin, caught him and eventually shot him. Zimmerman told police he drew and fired after Martin started to fight him.

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Herein lies the rub as they say. From the Orlando Sentinel (20 miles south of Sanford, Florida). ..........

The "Stand Your Ground" law, which enables people who perceive a threat to use deadly force without first trying to retreat from a confrontation, was a landmark when it passed in 2005. Since then, 16 more states have adopted similar laws, which are far more lenient than the widely adopted "Castle Doctrine," which allows people to defend themselves in their homes.

The law “does not justify the use of deadly force in response to threats or shows of force of any and every kind. In ordinary circumstances a push or a slap may be met with a push or a slap, or perhaps a punch — but not with a bullet,” [Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton] Hirsch said.

Scoring political points over a tragic shooting is a perfect fit for this classless adminstration and now it is official, they have shown more remorse over this than the shooting of two border agents by the moron Eric Holder and his operation fast and furious.

1. "I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark."

4. "Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela — who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing."

5. "Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."

6. "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."

7. "They’re 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares?"

8. "Take that bone out of your nose and call me back (to an African American female caller)."

9. "I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They’re interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there’s a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn’t deserve."

I'm a racist punk because i spoke the truth? White or Black crime doesn't matter but i'm tired of all the outrage when it's a white on black crime, yet Jesse Jackson and the rest of the race baiters stay completely silent and are nowhere to be seen if a black person murders a white person.

All the facts in this case haven't come out yet. What if the kid started beating the guy with the gun? he's not allowed to protect himself? Once the investigation is over we will hear the truth.......well maybe not since The DOJ with Holder at the helm is doing the investigating (we can't even get all the details of the F&F murders out of these folks).

You are an idiot. I hope that you complained when the Bush daughters went on their spring breaks. Bottom line is that the Obama's paid for their daughter to go on Spring Break and the Secret Service would follow her anywhere she went.

The added cost is negligible and you trying to equate spring break expenses with the murder of a teenage boy is ludicrous. You are a pathetic excuse for a human being.

I love how he is a racist. Anyone who listens to the 911 tapes or hears the witness accounts of the girl on the phone with the boy should have no doubt that something is not right. If this were a white boy killed Holder would not have to investigate because the local police would have incarcerated and charged the shooter.

I assume from your username that you served in the military and for that I am grateful but the racist attitude that you still posses makes me weary of your service.

What if the kid started beating the guy with the gun? he's not allowed to protect himself?

Beating his alledged assailant? With what? A bag of candy? Good God gravyboy, this was a 17-year-old kid.

The only thing in your post I can agree with is that "all the facts haven't come out yet". Of course, we should not arrest or convict Zimmerman--even in the so-called "court of public opinion"-- until all the facts are better known.

As for the rest of your post, you seem to have already made your conclusion and I suspect there is little in the way of additional evidence that will change your mind.

PS: You did not speak the truth. You voiced your opinion on a hypothetical. I hope you understand the difference between that and "the truth" based on evidence.

If this were a Black on white murder you wouldn't hear a peep from anyone, especially the CBC, FBI or DOJ.

No you wouldn't - do you want me to tell you why you wouldn't hear a peep from anyone? BECAUSE YOU DAMN'D FOOL, THAT BLACK PERSON WOULD BE IN JAIL, STAND TRIAL AND PROBABLY GO TO JAIL FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. In case you weren't paying attention this time (then you shouldn't be commenting, but you did) that's the problem with this case, NOBODY IS IN JAIL FOR HAVING MURDERED THIS KID!!!